updated 09:30 am EST, Tue January 29, 2008

MSI on Future Noteboks

PC builder MSI today outlined many of its goals for designing notebooks in 2008, many of which provide immediate clues as to its upcoming models. Following Warner's choice to drop HD DVD, MSI is likely to do the same with its own HD-capable systems, choosing Blu-ray instead. This will be helped by a slight boost in the average size of a notebook screen to 15.6 inches as well as a switch to LED backlighting on some models, which should improve image quality while helping battery life at the same time.

Notebooks with 2-megapixel webcams and integrated digital TV tuners are also more likely as users look to keep track of each other as well as to watch TV somewhere other than a TV or a cellphone, MSI says. Battery life and the reduction of toxic or non-recyclable materials from systems to improve their eco-friendless will also be an important goal. The computer maker only has reservations about WiMAX Internet access, which it believes will be widely installed in 2008 but is "too early" to really be useful, according to the company.

Which notebook models are set to receive these features are unknown, though most are expected to